Base for knockdown stands



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Dec. 15, 1953 C. E. JOHNSON BASE FOR KNOCKDOWN STANDS Filed May 16, 1949 INVENTOR. CHAR 458 E. 4/0 H/VSO/V Patented Dec. 15, 1953 BASE FOR KNOCKDOWN STANDS.

Charles E. Johnson, Degrafl, Ohio, assignor of one-half to Paul D. Smith, Deg-raft, Ohio Application May 16, 1949, Serial No. 93,550

5 Claims.

My invention relates to stands for small articles such as spheres or the like, and more particularly to a base for a stand of the knock-down type wherein the base is adapted to maintain the stand against collapse and also firmly seated on the base.

With the foregoing in view, it is an object of my invention to provide an improved base for a knock-down stand for small articles.

A further object is to provide an improved base for a knock-down stand for small articles, which stand comprises a pair of similar stand members interfitted together in crossing relation, and wherein the base includes spaced detents engaging opposed feet of the stand and flexing the feet in opposite directions whereby to maintain the stand in firm frictional engagement with the detents.

Other objects and advantages reside in the particular structure of the invention, combination and arrangement of the several parts thereof, and will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art upon reference to the attached drawing in connection with the following specification, wherein the invention is shown, described and claimed.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is an elevational view of the stand and base according to the invention;

Fig. 2 is a plan View thereof;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken substantially on the plane of the line 33 of Fig. 2.

Referring specifically to the drawing, wherein like reference characters have been used throughout the several views to designate like parts, I designates generally any suitable ornament adapted to be supported by the stand and base according to the invention. In the embodiment illustrated, the ornament It comprises a threedimensional puzzle including a plurality of puzzle pieces ll interfitted together to form a substantial sphere. The ornament It! is supported on a knock-down stand comprising a pair of similar stand members i2 and I3 interfitted together in crossing relation. Thus, the stand members comprises flat plates of semi-resilient material. The plate I2 is formed with a downwardly directed slot l5 adapted to interfit with an upwardly directed slot l4 formed in the stand member l3 in a well-known manner. The floors l6 of the slots are in abutting relation. The arrangement is such that the stand includes opposed pairs of foot portions l1 and I8 and I9 and 20.

The stand, according to the invention, is generally indicated at 2| and in the embodiment illustrated comprises a substantially flat plate having an upper surface formed with a pair of substantially V-shaped bosses 22 and 23. The bosses 22 and 23 are arranged in opposed relation to provide diverging surfaces engaging the foot portions I! and I8 and I9 and 20. In the embodiment illustrated, the stand members l2 and I3 normally cross each other at right angles but the V-shaped bosses 22 and 23 diverge at angles slightly greater than right angles whereby to apply the foot portions to the bosses, it is necessary to flex the pairs of foot portions as indicated in broken lines, Fig. 2.

The foot portions are then applied in straddling relation to the related bosses and permitted to return towards their normal right angularly disposed positions. However, they are prevented from reaching the full right angle positions, indicated in chain dotted lines, Fig. 2, whereby they are maintained flexed by the diverging sides of the bosses 22 and 23. This arrangement maintains the foot portions in firm frictional engagement with the bosses, the latter exerting a wedging action on the same whereby to maintain them on the stand and also in tight engagement with each other.

While I have shown the bosses as comprising upwardly extending portions of the base, it is obvious that they could comprise cross-shaped recesses and/or individual bosses for each foot portion arranged in V-shaped or wedge-shaped relation. Thus, while I have shown and described what is now thought to be a preferred embodiment of the invention, it is to be understood that the same is susceptible of other forms and expressions. Consequently, I do not limit myself to the precise structures shown and described hereinabove except as hereinafter claimed.

I claim:

1. A knock-down stand comprising a base, at least two substantially resilient stand members mounted on said base, said stand members being adapted to be interfitted together in crossing relation, at least two opposed pairs of angularly disposed foot portions provided by said stand members, at least two spaced and opposed bosses aifixed to said base, there being a boss interfitting between each opposed pair of foot portions and having side portions engaging the adjacent foot portions, and said side portions diverging at greater angles than said pairs of foot portions whereby to flex the same in opposite directions and maintain all of said foot portions in firm frictional engagement with said bossesr 2. The structure of claim 1 wherein said side portions of said bosses converge to provide V- shaped foot engaging portions.

3. The structure oi. claim 2, wherein said bosses are triangular in shape.

4. A knock-down stand comprising a base, at least two substantially resilient stand members mounted on said base, said stand members being adapted to be interfitted together in crossing relation, at least two opposed pairs of angularly disposed foot portions provided by said stand members, said base including supporting means interfitting between each opposed pair of foot portions and engaging the opposed sides of each pair of foot portions, and said supporting means being disposed at difierent angular relation than said foot portions engaged thereby so as to flex said foot portions in opposite directions whereby to maintain all of said foot portions in firm frictional engagement with said supporting means.

5. The structure of claim 4, wherein said supporting means project above the surface of said base.

CHARLES E. JOHNSON.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,089,290 Thompson Mar. 3, 1914 1,738,276 Barney Dec. 3, 1929 

